Rail turning device



Aug. 17, 1948. G. WESTERHOLM RAIL TURNING DEVICE.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 25, 1945 Jih Aug' 17, 1948. G. wEsTERHoLM v 2,447,223

RAIL TURNING DEVI CEl Filed Oct. 25, 1945 V2 Sheets-Sheet 2 idatentecl ug. i7, i948 RAIL TURNING DEVICE Gustaaf Westerholm, Hobart, Ind., assignor to Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application October 25, 1945, Serial No. 624,402

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a rail turning deviceand more particularly to such a device for turning the rails from a position with the head up to a position on their sides. During the process of manufacture, the rails are inspected at various stages and in order to inspect the rails they must be turned fro-m a position with the head up to a position on their sides. rlhe first inspection of the rails after they have been slow cooled is at the inspection and transfer bed just after the rails have been unloaded from the slow cooling cars by an overhead magnetic crane. Here the rails are set on the bed with their heads up and the heads are inspected. To facilitate inspection of the web and flange and expose the identication marking Ion the web, the rail must be turned on its side. This is ordinarily done by gripping the web at the end of the rail with a pronged iron bar and turning it manually. This is a slow, dangerous and tiresome task requiring great physical strength on the part of the operator. Several means for turning the rails have been devised, but none to my knowledgehave been successful, Ione of the reasons for the failure being that the rails are not straight when they come out of the slow cooling cars.

It is also desirable to turn the rails on the hot beds during the cooling of the rails. My device is suitable for this purpose, butit is desirable vto use more than one such device in order that the rails may be turned often enough to secure uniform cooling and thus compensate for the tendency of the hot rails to bend when cooled on their sides. In this installation my rail turning device may be used to turn the rails from side to side or from the side to the base.

It is an object of my invention to provide a ydeafter referring to the following specification and Y attached drawings in which: Y

Figure 1 is a plan view of the transfer bed and the rerailer;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the rail turning carriage; j

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of-the carriage taken on line IV-IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation similar to Figure 4, but showing the rail being turned;

Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of the skid; and Y Figure 7 is aside elevation of Figure 6. v

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the referene numeral 2 indicates the loading end of an inspection table on which the head of the rails are facing upwardly. The web and the iiange of the rails are inspected on another section 4 separated from the section 2. 'I'he loading end 2 is provided with spaced apart supports 6 2 Y for supporting the rails transversely of their direction of movement. As best shown in Figures 5 and '7, each of the supports 6 consists of a pair of spaced apart angles B with a skid bar IIJ therebetween, which is supported on a pivot pin I2 at the loading end of the support. The discharge ends'of the angles 8 are provided with a plurality of holes I4 while similar holes Iii are arranged at various elevations in the bar I0. A pin I8 passing through a setof the holes I4 and I6 determines the height of the discharge end of the skid bar. The skid bar [Il is provided with a stop I9 at its rear end which prevents the rails from falling off that end. Section 4 ofthe inspection table is provided with skid rails 2G. An inclined'skid rail 22 extends from the top of skid rails 2D downwardly toward the skid bars Iii. The supports 6, 20 and k22 are fastened in any suitable manner to the usual substructure 24. Mounted between the supports E is a pairof movable carriages 26. As best shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, each of the carriages 26 is provided with four wheels 28 mounted on shafts'3l; The frame 32 of the carriage is provided with a'spacer 34 through which passes a bolt 36 to hold the parts of the frame together in spaced apart relationship. A bar 38 of the same length as spacer 34 is fastened to the parts of the frame in any suitable manner. A bar 40 fastened to the rear end of the carriage is screw threaded toreceive screw 42 which carries a clevis 44. A pin 48 is fastened to the frame in front of the rearwheels 28. The ends of a cable 48 are fastened to the clevis 44 and the pin 46 to form an endless loop. The cable 48 extends Varound a drum at one end rlof the carriage travel and to a powered cable drive at the other end which is equipped with a variable speed.rmotor to vary the speed of travel of the carriages on the Yrails 52. Pivotally mounted on a pin 54 'at the rear end of the carriage is a dog 56. The plate 38 acts as a stop for the dog and prevents it from rotating rearwardly. The bottom of the dog is provided with a hole 58 and the carriage is provided Vwith a similar hole 66 for a purpose which will appear later. Pivotally mountedon apin 62 on each side jof the front end of-the carriage is a dog 64. Pawls 66 and 58 are pivotally mounted oneach side of each dog for a purpose which Will appear later. The top of the carriages 26 is below the level lof the supports 6 and the skid bars 20T while the tapered skids 22 extend from the'skid bars 20 to a point at or below the top of the carriage. The carriages 26 act in unison and if desired they could be connected to form a single carriage if the middle skid 2U `is omitted.

In operation, Vthe carriages 26 are moved to their rear position as shown'in FigureY 1 and several rails are deposited by an overhead magnet crane onto the adjustable skid bars Ii). The dogs 56 are in their normal vertical position'with the top thereof extending above thesupport E. The

cable drive is then started to move the carriages forward with the dogs 5G, contacting the rear rail. As the carriage moves forward the dogs push the rails along the support and oi the front end thereof onto the carriages 26 as shown in Figure 5. The height of the skids IU is adjusted for the size of the rail by passing a pin I8 through the selected openings I4 and I6. The-traveling speed' of the rails as they reach the end` of the skid bars I8 must be the proper speed for the particular size rails being turnedY since at too high a speed the rails will not turn. The maximum traveling speed is easily determined by the operator. When the rails reach the end of the skiid bars t!) they tumble over on their side the moment the center of gravity goes beyond the endg of the skid rails onto. the carriages, 25. If the rails are on their sides they can be turned to their base or even to the other side. Nornial'ly the rails turn through an angle of about 20F.. Since the turned rail, is supported cn the max/:ing carriages 26T, it is moved from the front ofY the. support prior to. the turningY of the next succeed-ing rail. Whenthe rails. on the carriages reach apoint along the tapered skids 22 at the same: elevation as. the top of the carriages. 2S, the weight of the rails: is` transferred from the carriagestogthe rails. 2?r of the inspection bed. From here the dogs. 56 continue to push the rails toward the discharge. end of the bed to. a roller tab-1e (not shown). rihe length of the inspection bed: maybe such that a carload. of' rails may be accommodated thereon at one time. After the rails. are inspectedy on section 4 of the inspection table, the. dogs 56. are turned down so.- that they are below thev top.v surface of the carriages. A pin. is inserted; through. the holes. 58. and 60, to hold the dog 56- on each carriagev in its lowered position. In order that a single rail may be unloaded from the inspection table, if desired, thedogsV 64 aroused for unloading. In this. operation the pavvlsl 66 are turned.A to contact the arliacenty dogs 6.4 and the. pawls Sii are out of contact with4 the dogs. After the dogs G4 push a.` rail from the inspectionv table the carriages are moved; backwardlyi under the rails and` When the clogs 64 contact a rail theywill be pivoted around the pins G2 so that they slide beneath the rails. When the carriages are stopped theA dogs rotate ina clockwise direction and rise above the rails. Upon. forward movement ofiy the-carriages the rails infrontof: dogs ['54` are-moved along the skids 25. this manner anyy number of rails may be moi/.edf toward the roller tableat one time. If, fonany'reason, it becomes desirable tovmovesome of the rails onA therinspection` tableback toward the: loading endf, pawls GS are disengaged and pawls 68 are engaged withthe clogs 64!- toprevent counterclockwise movement of the dogs from a Vertical posit-ion; When all the rails areA removed* from the section 4= or when itis desired tomove and turn more rails from' section 2-, the carriages 26 are movedV backv to the originalA position andf the pins removed from openings 53 and 60- to permit the dogs 5B' to move to their vert-ical position.

T he above described operation is then repeated.

While; one embodiment of my invention has been shown anddescribed, itwill be apparentthat other adaptations and modications may be made Without departing from the scope of the following claims..

l1J claim:

1. A deviceY for turning and'movingrails or the like comprising spaced apart' supports for supporting the rails transversely of their direction of movement, a movable carriage mounted adjacent said supports, means for moving said Carriage at variable speeds longitudinally of said supports, the top of said carriage being below the top of said supports, the front end of said supports being substantially vertical, means for adjusting the distance between the top of the carriage and the top of the supports at the discharge end, means on said carriage for engaging the rails and pushing them oli" the front end of the support one at a time to turn them from one side to another, said carriagemoving the turned rails from in front of the support prior to the turning of the next succeeding rail.

A device for turning andv moving rails or the like comprising spacedv apart supports for supporting the rails transversely of their direction of' movement, a movable carriage mounted adjacent said supports, the top of carriage being below the top. of said supports, means on said carriage for engaging the rails and pushing them on the front end of the support to turn them from one side to another, said carriage moving the turned rails from in front of the support prior to the turning of the next succeeding rail, a second group of spaced apart supports for supporting the rails transversely of their direction of travel, said second supports being spaced longitudinally from said first supports in the direction oi travel, the top of said carriage being below theV top of the second supports, and an incline extending upwardly from the plane of the top of the carriage to the top of the second supports at the entry side, thereof.

3. A device for turning and moving rails or the like comprising spaced apart supports for supporting the rails transversely of their direction of movement, a movable carriage, mounted adjacent said supports, means for moving said carriage longitudinally of said supports, the top of said' carriage being below the top of said supports, the front end of said supports being subistantially Vertical, means on the rear end' of said carriage for engaging the rails as the carriage is moved toward the front end of said supports and pushing them ofi the front end of the support one at a time ontoA said carriage to turn them from one side to another.

4. A device for turning and moving rails or the like comprising spaced apart supports` for supporting the rails transversely of their direction of movement, a movable carriagemounted adjacent said supports, the top of said'l carriage being below the top of said supports, means on the rear end of said carriage for engaging the rails and pushing them off the front end ofthe support onto said carriage to turn themrom one side to another, a second group of spaced apart supports'for-supporting the railstransversely of their direction of travel, said second supports being spaced longitudinally from said first supports in the direction of travel, the top of said@ carriage being below the top ofthe second supports, and anincline extending upwardlyfromthe plane of the top of the carriage to the top of the second supports at the entry side thereof.

5, A device forY turning and moving rails or the like comprising spaced apart supports f or supporting the rails transversely ofV their direction, of movement, a movable carriage mounted adjacent said supports, means for moving' said carriage atV variable speeds longitudinally of said supports, the` top of said` carriage being below the top of' said supports, the front end of said supports being substantially vertical, means on the rear end of said carriage for engaging the y rails as the carriage is moved toward the front end of said supports and pushing them off the front end of the support onto said carriage one at a time to turn them from one side to another, and means for adjusting the distance between the top of the carriage and the top of the supports at the discharge end.

6. A device for turning and moving rails or the like comprising spaced .apart supports for supporting the rails transversely of their direction of movement, a movable carriage mounted adjacent said supports, the top of said carriage being below the top of said supports, means on the rear end of said carriage for engaging the rails and pushing them off the front end of the support onto said carriage to turn them from one side to another, means for adjusting the distance between the top of the carriage and the top of the supports at the discharge end, a second group of spaced apart supports for supporting the rails transversely of their direction of travel, said second supports being spaced longitudinally from said rst supports in the direction of travel, the top of said carriage being below the top of the second supports, an incline extending upwardly from the plane of the top of the carriage to the top of the second supports at the entry side thereof.

7. A device for turning and moving rails or the like comprising spaced apart supports for supporting the rails transversely of their direction of movement, a movable carriage mounted adjacent said supports, means for moving said carriage longitudinally of said supports, the top of said carriage being below the top of said sup-V ports, the front end of said supports being substantially vertical, a plurality of pivotal dogs supported on the rear end of said carriage, and means for holding the dogs in position above the top of said supports so that they engage the rails and push them along the supports and oif the front end thereof onto said carriage to turn them from one side to another as the carriage is moved toward the front end of said supports.

8. A device for turning and moving rails or the like comprising spaced apart supports for supporting the rails transversely of their direction of movement, a movable carriage mounted adjacent said supports, means for moving said carriage at variable speeds longitudinally of said supports, the top of said carriage being below the top of said supports, the front end of said supports being substantially vertical, a plurality of pivotal dogs supported on the rear end of said carriage, means for holding the dogs in position above the top of said supports so that they engage vthe rails and push them along the supports and olf the front end thereof onto said carriage to turn them from one side to another as the car* riage is moved toward the front end of said supports, and means for adjusting the distance between the top of the carriage and the top of the supports at the discharge end.

9. A device for turning and moving rails or the like comprising spaced apart supports for supporting the rails transversely of their direction of movement, a movable carriage mounted adjacent said supports, the top of said carriage being below the top of said supports, a plurality of pivotal dogs supported on the rear end of said carriage, means for holding the dogs in position above the top of said supports so that they engage the rails and push them along the supports and off the front end thereof onto said carriage to turn them from one side to another, a second group of spaced apart supports for supporting the rails transversely of their direction of travel, said second supports being spaced longitudinally from said first supports in the direction of travel, the top of said carriage being below the top of the second supports, and an incline extending upwardly from the plane of the top of the carriage to the top of the second supports at the entry side thereof.

10. A device for turning and moving rails or the like comprising spaced apart supports for supporting the rails transversely of their direction of movement, a movable carriage mounted adjacent said supports, the top of said carriage being below the top of said supports, a plurality of pivotal dogs supported on the rear end of said carriage, means for holding the dogs in position above the top of said supports so that they engage the rails and push them along the supports and oii the front end thereof onto said carriage to turn them from one side to another, means for adjusting the distance between the top of the carriage and the top of the supports at the discharge end, a second group of spaced apart supports for supporting the rails transversely of their direction of travel, said second supports being spaced longitudinally from said rst supports in the direction of travel, the top of said carriage being below the top of the second supports, and an incline extending upwardly from the plane of the top of the carriage to the top of the second supports at the entry side thereof.

1l. A device for turning and moving rails or the like comprising spaced apart supports for supporting the rails transversely of their direction of movement, a movable carriage mounted adjacent said supports, the top of said carriage being below the top of said supports, a plurality of pivotal dogs supported on the rear end of said carriage, Ymeans for holding the dogs in position above the top of said supports so that theyV engage the rails and push them along the supports and 01T the front end thereof onto said carriage to turn them from one side to another, means for adjusting the distance between the top of the carriage and the top of the supports at the discharge end, a second group of spaced apart supports for supporting the rails transversely of their direction of travel, said second supports being spaced longitudinally from said rst supports in the direction of travel, the top of said carriage being below the top of the second supports, an incline extending upwardly from the plane of the top of the carriage to the top of the second supports at the entry side thereof, a plurality of pivotal dogs supported on the front end of said carriage, and means for holding the last named dogs in position above the top of said supports to engage the rails and push them along the supports in either direction.

GUSTAF WESTERHOLM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 190,211 Gustin May 1, 1877 704,890 Morrison July 15, 1902 1,499,971 Callison July 1, 1924 2,272,501 Bauer Feb. 10, 1942 

